EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENTS.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Student earns scholarship

The Eugene High School/South Eugene High School Alumni Scholarship for 2006 was awarded to Daniel Gusset, a 2006 graduate of South Eugene. The $1000 scholarship is based on academics, extra-curricular activities and need, and is funded by contributions from alums from Eugene High School and its successor, South Eugene. Gusset will be attending MacAlister College.

Culinary scholarship given

Sarah Hecker, a 2006 graduate of Willamette High School, is the recipient of the 2006 Mentored Scholarship, sponsored by Western Culinary Institute, the Oregon Restaurant Education Foundation (OREF) and the Oregon Restaurant Association. She completed the school's ProStart Hospitality program, which trains students for management roles in the restaurant, food service, lodging and hospitality industry sectors. Hecker will receive $2,000 toward her post-secondary education in the hospitality/food service industry. She will attend the Western Culinary Institute to study in the patisserie and baking program, and also will be paired with a mentor to help make the transition from high school to post-secondary school a little easier.

A total of nine scholarships were given to students around the state.

Student to attend program

Dmitry Vaintrob, who will be a senior at South Eugene High School this fall, has been selected to attend the Research Science Institute, a prestigious internship program for academically talented high school students. He was one of 52 students selected from a pool of more than 1,200 applicants. He'll take part in six weeks of rigorous research training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Selection criteria include grades, national exam scores, teacher recommendations and participation in science competition and activities that indicate leadership abilities. The program blends classroom instruction and research mentorships with top scientists. Students attend at no cost, and continue to participate in alumni activities throughout their undergraduate and graduate careers.

Former teacher wins award

Former teacher Ruth Greiner of Coos Bay has been named recipient of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's 2006 Personal Achievement Award for Oregon. Greiner, 55, was selected because of her dedication and commitment to education.

Greiner taught in Coos Bay for 32 years. Unable to continue, she is still involved in education, serving on the Oregon Education Association board of directors and the board for the National Education Association. This year the OEA created a new award in Greiner's honor called "The Ruth E. Greiner Membership Award" as a result of her efforts in getting new, younger members involved in the organization.

In 2003, Greiner received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive disease characterized by generalized weakness and muscle wasting, usually leading to virtually complete paralysis. Greiner uses a walker, a manual wheelchair and occasionally a power wheelchair for mobility.

Greiner was chosen for the achievement award by MDA's South Central Oregon Chapter and was then named Oregon's state recipient. The national honoree will be announced on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon on Labor Day weekend.